Journalism 64
News and Reporting Principles II
Prof. Woodward
Spring Semester 2001
Journalism 64 is a second-semester course in beginning reporting designed primarily for students in the sequences of broadcast news and news-Internet.
The main objectives are (1) to improve students' writing and editing skills; (2) to broaden students' reporting techniques; (3) to develop students' understanding of the Internet and World Wide Web; (4) to introduce students to reporting on the Internet; (5) to familiarize students with key issues in print and broadcast journalism; and (6) to improve students' abilities to write under deadline pressures. Emphasis will be placed on quality reporting and writing.
REQUIRED READING
The required reading for the semester includes:
Goldstein, Norm, editor. Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. New York: The Associated Press, 35th edition or later, 2000.
Lanson, Jerry, and Fought, Barbara Croll. News in a New Century: Reporting in an Age of Converging Media. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge Press, 1999.
Washington Post and Cable News Network. Daily reading (Monday through Sunday) of the online versions of the Post and CNN.
WASHINGTON POST AND CNN
You will be expected to keep up with the daily reporting of the Post and CNN. We'll use examples from the two sites on the World Wide Web to explore the ideas and the reporting behind the stories.
STORY REQUIREMENTS
Each student will be required to write at least six graded news stories plus numerous ungraded exercises during the semester.
On-campus stories will be much more comprehensive than most reporting done in Journalism 54. Two on-campus enterprise stories are required. All ideas for such stories must be approved in advance by the teacher. The stories will be offered for possible publication in The Times-Delphic, and they also will be posted on a class site on the World Wide Web. Most--if not all--of the stories will go through a rewrite process prior to publication.
Other stories will include a long profile on a campus person; a news/feature story (later in the semester) from a state government agency; and a story generated primarily by using the World Wide Web as your source for materials.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Your attendance and participation will be viewed as an indicator of your growing sense of professionalism. More than two unexcused absences will result in the lowering of your semester grade. Your participation in classroom discussions is highly encouraged. And the class begins at 8 a.m.: Be on time.
GRADING
Any assignment not submitted by deadline will receive an automatic F. Stories with major errors in editing, style and spelling will be heavily graded down.
The semester grade will be determined by grades on the required stories and other class assignments; by work on required rewrites; and by class attendance and participation.
COPY PREPARATION
An original and a copy of all story assignments outside of class must be submitted to the teacher. All copy must be double-spaced with standard margins.
SOME OTHER THOUGHTS
Accuracy is a hallmark of good reporting. Double-check names, identifications and addresses in your stories; verify information with more than one source if possible. If there's any doubt about the information, leave it out. Inaccuracies and misspellings are indicators of carelessness in your reporting and editing; sloppily edited copy will be graded down. Use the Associated Press stylebook and your dictionary.
In the news business, deadlines are highly important. Get started early on your stories so you don't miss a deadline.
JOURNALISM 64 WEB SITE
During the semester, we will create a site on the World Wide Web to present stories developed by students in Journalism 64. This will provide you with an opportunity to see your stories in a published format and also will show you the possibilities of using the Internet in your media work.